Plate finishing and cooling machine



Nov. 28, 1944.

H. A. w. WC OD ETAL PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Fi led Jan. 17, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov.2s,1944.

H. 'A. w. WOOD ETAL PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1'7, 1939 Nov. 28, 1944.

H. A. w. WOOD ETAL 2,364,032

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE v File d Jan. 17, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 N g t\ Q m N N N w Nov. 28, 1944.

H. A. W; WOOD EIAL PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 7521 2 a r M Nov. 28, 1944. H. A. w. WOOD EI'AL 2,364,032 I PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. A. W. WOOD ETAL PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Nov. 28, 1944.

10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 17, 1939 new m wa 4 3 $7 u .I i C h w v M. fl 1/ I. g ll l m Mm N P kw QJ Jhw Q as 3N Q V e NHNI. Jum QN N [N bww [Ill/[Ir II 1/1/11 I!!! 111177;

H. A. w. WOOD ETAL 2,364,032

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Nov. 28, 1944.

Filed Jan. 17, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 1944! H. A. w. WOOD EIAL 2,364,032

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jam Nov. 28, 1944.

PLATE FINISHING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1939 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 H. A. w. WOOD ETAL, 2,364,032

10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Jan. 17, 1959 Patented Nov. 28, 1944 I L. Tollison, Ricards, South Plainfield, and John A. Isbell, .Plainfield, N. J Elizabeth Ogden. .Wood, 1 executrix of Henry poration, Plainfield, N.

a Virginia npplication Ianuary 17, 1939, Serial No. 251,322

G AND coorlnvo MACHINE Henry A. Wise Wood, New York, N.Y., and Paul North Plainfield, Charles L.

A. Wise Wood, deceased, assignors to Wood Newspaper Machinery cm;-

J., a corporation of fi'hisiinvention dealswithf the type of stereotype plate finishing and cooling machine where printing plates, particularly stereotype plates, are shavedto the proper thickness, cooled and delivered ready for-placing on the printing press.

The machine is provided with an inspection platform onwhich the plates are placed. After inspection they are allowed to pass into the machinje where the concave surface of the semicylindrical plate i shaved land the beveled edges are trimmed." l1

The"principal objects of this invention are to provide means whereby, asthe plate enters the shaving arch; a blast of air is directed against the printingsurface of the plate, to .remove any chips or foreign' matter which may; injure the printing surface thereof to provide for passing the plate on to a cooling tank where water may befdirected on either or both sides of the plate; to provide for then passing the plate from the cooling tank over suitably. arranged air pipes for blowing water olf theinside of the plate before it is sent to. the printing press; to provide means for directing a spray :of atomized lubricant on the shaving knife or knives every few revolutions ing stand; e l

' Fig. is a sectional view of therollers in the coolingtank; l i it 2 Figs. 11 and 12 are cross sections on .theline H|2 of Fig, .1 andshowing the clamping arrangement in its lowered position in Fig. 11 and in'itsraised-position in Fig.12; i i

i Fig. 13' shows the spring mechanism which inplate as it passesout of "the arch toward the coolsures lowering of the plate clamps after finishing ofthegplate iscompleted;

Fig.,14 illustrates a mechanism for silencing the first plate stop when the double revolution featureisused; q

, Fig. is a plan view of the mechanism used for turning on cooling water; i Fig. lfi is across section on the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the double revolution deof the'knife bartoqkeep theknife .orknives free of chips'and thereby minimize, or totally eliminate, theisticking ofwchipsto the shaving knives orzto theplate that is being finished, andto provide means as far as possible for shieldingthe rotary members for safety and to keep out chips and other foreign matter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which n .Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine showing particularly the clamping mechanism and parts for controlling the speed of the plate downthe incline; l r e Figs. 2 and}; are longitudinal sectional views showingmost of the principal partsof the machine;; w

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing a detail of themain drive gearmg; 1

Fig. 5 is a section on the line. 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing additional details of the main drive;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rollers on thereceiving end of the machine; l l Fig. 7 is a compressed view of thero-llers uni derneath, the shaving arch and vshowing their meansofsupport: H l

Fig fi is an elevation looking inthe direction of the arrow 81in Fig. 7; N

Fig." 9 is a plan View ofthe'idler rolls forthe Fig. 17 isa view' siniilar to Fig. -16 showing the double revolution mechanism blocked out so that plates passing through the machine will be fin R ished and delivered after each revolution of the knife bar; e i a Fig. 18 shows the. plate entering the arch with the plate ejector depressed;

Fig..19 shows the. position as the plate strikes the second plate stop; H v s Fig. 20 shows .the second plate stop depressed, permitting the plate to pass out from underneath thearch U Fig. 21 shows the-plate ejector giving a push to the. plate as it passes out of the arch;

1 Fig.;22 is a detail View of the knife bar, illustrating the mountingprovided to accommodate the plate ejector; l Fig,- 23 isasectionalview of the delivery end of. the machine showing devices for blowing water oil the underneath partofthe plate after cool- Fig. 24 is ,a view looking. in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 23; 4

Fig. 25 is a viewlooking in the direction of the arrow 25 in Fig. 23 z 7 I Fig. 26.is :an elevation of a device for blowing chips o fithesurface of the plate as it passes into th'earch;

Fig.27 is an end view. of part of the machine showing a device for spraying the-shaving knives itoprevent sticking of the chips; e i T Fig. 28 is a section on the line 28-28 of Fig. 27

Fig. 29 is a section on the line 29-29 of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is a partial cross section of the air valve operating device; V l e Fig. 31 is an elevation of the same;

The machine proper is divided into three main sections, each section being marked by a framing division. .A main frame, which includes the shaving arch I and becomes the (base for the i entire machine, carries the major '=.part .of. the

operating mechanism to be described elsewhere;

Said frame is made in one piece and machined at either end that .it may accommodate, at its right hand end, a receiving, loading, and inspection platform 2 and, at its left hand end, a cooling stand and delivery bracket 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Between these there "is as=us al the shaving arch I, which forms part-of the frame, and a cooling arch 2!.

Referring particularly to Figs. .2 and 3, taper bearings 4 and 5 rotatably mount a knife bar '6 concentrically with an arched iportion'of the main frame, forming the shaving arch I. Said taper bearings are held in position by pillow blocks-1 and 8 respectively that are bolted to the main frame. The "knife bar 6 derives. its

rotation from a motor 9 secured to" the under portion of 'the loading platform "2, through a pinion l0 and a gear H. This gear. is mounted on a shaft I2 as best shown in Fig. 4. Referring also to Fig. 5, the shaft 1 2 has integral therewith a worm l3 which meshes withf-a worm wheel I 4 carried by a shaft I5, said shaft being mounted on suitable ball bearings 1'6 and 'll.

Integral with the shaft .is a worm IBmeshing with a worm wheel I9, mounted on abarring hub sleeve '20. This worm "is free to rotate on said sleeve but is connected thereto by a r located between the loading platform 2 and the shaving arch I, are mounted in pairs on either side of the knife bar 6. They locate the .-plate P centrally with respect to the machine all along the course of plate travel. The "descrip- :tion of rollers "on one side of the knife bar will suffice for lbothzsides. A roller 26 is mounted so that its -top side is tangent to a guide chan- =nel'2b in the receiving platform 2. Referring to Fig. 1, the roller '26 is carried by ball bearings on a stud 21 mounted in a bracket 28 adjustably bolted to the :platform 2.

Continuing along the angle of machine operation, the plate approaches a roller 29, Fig. 6, mounted by ball hearings on :an eccentric-stud I 30 securedin a bracket 3|. .An eccentricstud shear pin 2|, Fig. 2,. "The'b-arring hub sleeve is secured to the knife bar shaft '6 by a key 22 and held in place by lock-nuts 2 3. In this manner rotation is provided for the knife bar 5. The

worm wheel .I9 and associated parts are protected by a casing 19a. These features are 10- cated under or near the loading platform 2.

The knife bar 6 now becomes the main drive shaft for this machine, as it will be shown that said shaft either has operatingparts mounted thereon or, through intermediate parts, controls certain mechanisms. This is a desired feature in that all moving parts must be synchronized with knives 24 and 25 carried on the knife bar 6.

As previously explained, the plate to be fin ished traverses the machine at an angle to use gravitational pull. Suitable rollers have been arrangedto accommodate the straight edges .of the plate and guide it in its course to the various operating positions. These rollers are mounted on ball bearings and some of them are free to turn, as will be described. Other rollers are driven at a speed calculated to set the plate at various machine positions. at the proper time.

The rollers will carry the plate through the machine where said plates progress will "be controlled by various stops actuated from the knife bar, which will either prevent further motion of the plate, or allow it to pass on as the particular time in the operating cycle will permit.

Referring to Figs. 1, .3, 6, 7, .8, .9 and ,10, for the sake of .convenience, the plate rollers will divided into various groupings: r t

'- Group' a: Those rollers between the inspec-r tion platformand the iii 32 supports aroller '33 in a similar manner. I The bracket 3I is bolted to the bracket 2 and ecw it abuts a stop 34,, Fig. .2, to be described in detail later. The depressing of said stop will allow the plate to proceed until it is intercepted by a.

driven roller 35 and has its speed controlled thereby. 'The .roller 35 derives its motion from the same source as the knife :bar 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5., 'the shaft I5 has secured to .it, one at each end, spiral gears '36, which will operate the driving or hold back rollers :of .the left hand and .right hand side of the machine respectively; Referring to the left hand side only, one spiral gear 36 meshes with an intermediategear 38 that mounted by ball bearingson a stud 39 secured .in the bracket 3 I. .Said intermediate gear meshes with a gear 40 see cured to one :endof a shaft 4| which is rotatably mounted in the same bracket 3| by suitable bearings 42 and '43. The shaft 41, which is par allel to "the knife bar 6, has secured on its opposite end, a spiral gear 44 and shaft coupling 45.

Said coupling transmits drive through a shaft 46 to the driving roller in group'c, to be described later.

The spiral gear 4'4 meshes with an intermediate gear 41 which is carried by ball bearings on a stud 48 secured in the frame. The stud 48 pivotally mounts a bracket 4'9k'so that a gear 50 secured to a shaft 5'! rotatably mounted by suitable ball bearings in said bracket l9, may stay in mesh with the intermediate gear '41 and provide the drive for the roller 35 fastened to the shaft 5|, regardless of the rollers position, to accommodate various plate sizes. The bracket 49 is secured in position by a screw passing through a slot 4'9aand tapped into the frame. The periphery of the roller 35 is notched to provide a friction surface against the plate edge. The roller 35 permits the plate to move forward under the shaving arch' at a controlled speed where it'is guided by group b rollers, in this arch l. I

With the exception of a roller 52 on the left hand side of the machine, as viewed from the receiving end, all rollers in group b are mounted Group 1): Those rollers completely within the to the shaft 73 which is secured in a second stop 66 releases a succeeding plate from the arch. The plate, leaving the tank, will continue along the rollers 84, 85 and 86 supported by a bracket 92 bolted to the bracket 3 until it passes on to a conveyor, which is quite frequently used, or is halted by astop, which point it is manually removed.

From the description it isapparent that rollers guide the plate in traversing the machine and when thelifter bar 63 is at its lowest point. This is best shown in the left hand side of Fig. 11.

The lifter bar 93 is at this low point when the shaving arch is, ready to receive a plate P or when the plate has just been lowered from. the arch. In this position of the lifter bar, the toe 62a on the hinge bracket will cause the upper edge of the roller 54 to rise above the top edge of the lifter bar 63. With other rollers in group 12' these are the sole carriers for the plate. As the lifter bar 63 rises, the toe 92a will draw away from the bar 65 and will allow the roller 54 to drop below the lifter bar surface and transfer the plate to the lifter bar 63 to be raised and clamped in the arch. This construction provides a firm support as the plate is being finished.

The rollers in group b, being freely mounted, allow the plate to move down throughthe machine until held by the second plate stop 66, which places said plate completely underneath 3 the arch. After the plate is clamped in the shaving arch and the curved ribs and ends of the plate finished, the plate is lowered, as will be described below. The depressing of the stop 99 will allow the plate to: proceed. If therollers do not act immediately, an ejector 61 described later, pushesthe plate along where it is picked up by group roller beyond the shavingarch, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. Rollers 68 and 69 are mounted similarly to eccentric studs 'Inandll respectively by ball bearings. Said studs are supported in a bracket 12 bolted to the frame. The

bracket I2 mounts, by suitable ball bearings 16 and TI, a shaft 13, which is connected to the shaft 46 by a coupling 14. A spiral gear keyed operates a drive roller 18 in the same manner that the gear 44 drives the roller 35.

A roller 18 will permit the plate to move from the cooling arch 29I into the cooling tank 19 from which point the group d rollers will guide the plate. Figs. 3 and 10 show rollers 89, BI,

2. .33, 94, 85 and 86 which are all mounted in anidentical. manner.

With particular reference to Fig. 19, the roller 82, which will serve to describe all rollers in group d, ismounted to an eccentric stud 8'! by ball bearings. Said stud is secured in a bracket-.99 which is bolted to the delivery-and-cooling-tank end 3. A set screw 89a secures the roller in proper position for any particular plate size. I

Wherever possible in group d, roller materials 7 that resist corrosion have been used to counteract the effects of water or moisture which is constantly present in the cooling tank end of the machine. i I

Rollers 89, BI, 82 and 83 are entirely'within the cooling tank, mounted there by brackets 88 and 89. It is understood, of course, that a similar set of rollers support and guide the other side of the plate. Said rollers will guide the plat to the third platestop 99 which will lo cate said plate for cooling operation. Said stop is operated by a cam 9| which causes the stop 90 to release the plate P at thesame time as the the angle of operation causes gravity to do this successfully.

The plate, on being moved from the receiving platform 2 to the plate rollers, is first brought into contactwith the first plate stop 34 which remains in contact with said plate until conditions within the shaving arch are favorable to receive it. -A cam 93, Fig. 2, which is secured to the knife shaft 6 causes the stop 34 to operate. Whenthe high. spot on said cam contacts a roller 94 on a stud 95secured 96, said slide will be forced against a held in the slide 96 by a counter-bored spring 91 hole and I abutting stop 34.

To operate the stop 34, the cam 93 must coby a second shave mechanism described elsewhere. The cam 98 will cause the stop 34 to be maintained in raised position in opposition to the action of the cam 93, or will allow the cam 93 to operate saidstop.

A lever 99 is operated by a pin. I99 working inv conjunction with the cam 98. The high point of said cam will cause the lever 99 to be rotated about a stud I9I carriedin the frame in such manner that one arm 99a is held against the stop 39 and secures it in raised position. When the stop is held in this manner, actionof the cam 93 against the roller 94 causes the slide 99 to move downward against the spring 91. Since the'stop 34 is secured in a raised position, the action of the cam 93 will merely cause the spring 91! to be compressed againstsaid stop with no resulting motion thereof. A spring I 92 carried by a spring rod I93 which is held by astud I94 in the frame,

operates against the lever 99 in such manner I I that when the earns 93 and 98 release pressure on.

said stop, the spring I92 will hold it in its high position. i

At the completion of the shaving operation, in the double or single shave cycle, the plate will be lowered from the arch and be moved therefrom. The cam 98 will be rotated releasing the lever 99 and allowing the cam 93 to operate the stop 34. The cam 93 will work against the roller 94 and I cause the slide 96 to move against the spring 91. The spring9l, which is much stronger than the spring I92, will force the stop 39 downward against the lever 99 and compress the spring I92. Upon rotation of the cam 93, past the roller 94, the spring I92 will move the stop 34 up to its high position. I

The plate will now be moved into the arched opening in the frame until it abuts the second plate stop 66. At this location, lifting bars 63 and I will engage the straight paralleledges of the plate and will raise said plate from position PI to position P-2 against an arch liner I96 shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The con-cave.sur face of said liner is finished to a dimension that will insure the properrplate curvature when the plate ribs are machined. Said concave surface .of the arch engages the printing face of the stereotype plate and holds said plate exactly connot shown, from in a slide The liner I is provided in arch portion to pro- /vide an accurate finishing base and provide a simple means for altering the machine for various printing diameters. I

,The knives 2'4 and 25 are provided with adjusting screws so that the desired depth of cut.

with each knife may be obtained. Clamp screws 24a and 25a lock the knives securely to the knife bar 6.

After a plate has been cast, the cooling action may cause it to flatten so that it does not lit the liner accurately. If the plate is forced to shape itself to the contour of the liner by pushing it into position, the type at the edges of the plate would be crushed. Means are provided for closing or pinching in the edges of the plate as it is raised into the arch to prevent damage.

machined thereon a ledge 63a and I05a, shown best in Fig; 7, which engage theoutside surface of the plate on the dead metal between the type and the plate edge. [is the plate is raised toward the arch, the lifter bars will move inward, pinching the plate slightly and allowing the edges to pass in without striking the arch liner. When the plate is at the highest point, the lifter bars 63 and I05 will move away from the dead metal,

allowing the plate to spring outward and assume the correct arch radius.

Plate lifting mechanism, best shown in Figs; 1 and 12, is operated by a shaft I01 operating in a clockwise manner and a shaft I00 operating in a counter-clockwise manner. Said shafts are on the right and left-hand side of the machine respectively and. control the lifting mechanism attached in a similar manner except for shaft rotation and certain parts. I

Mechanism of a shaft I08 may be called the positive clamp or lifter arrangement, as it holds the plate P in position against the action of the knife blades 24 and 25. Rotation of the shaft I08 moves a lever I09 in an arcuate manner, carrying at its outer end a stud IIO, to which is Said trunnion has connected a trunnion III. passing through ita threaded shank of lifter rod H2, said lifter rod being held in adjustment therein by lock nuts H3 and H4. The upper end of the lifter rod II2 is pivotally secured to the lifter bar I05 by a hinge pin H5. Referring to Fig. '7 we see that lifter rod arrangement is in and H9 secure said trunnion, which is pivotally" mounted, to the end of a pinching fork lever I20 by a stud I2I. The arrangement of the stud II6 is likewise in duplicate as shown in Fig.11.

The pinching fork lever I20 is carried in bearings I22 mounted on the frame which acts as said levers fulcrum. The fork lever I20 has positioned in one arm a stud I23 mounting a roller I 24 which is accommodated by a cam groove in a cam I25. Said cam is supported by a lever I26 which also has mounted therein a poppet I s e Fi 13. The lever I26 is secured to the shaft I08 and rotationof said shaft will cause the cam I25 to operate'the fork lever I20 and control the motion of the lifter bar I05 as it raises or lowers the plate;

Referring to Fig. 13, the poppet I21 accommodates a spring rod I28 which carries a spring I29.

Said spring rod is secured to a' bracket I30 by a. The bracket I30 is bolted to the .frame I. The spring I29 causes the plate lifter.

hinge stud'I3I.

' I05 to be returned to lowered position.

I The plate lifter bars 03 and I05 each have- The arrangement of the lifter barmechanism mounted on the shaft I01 is of similar construction and operation except for a'lifter rod I33 passing through a trunnion I32 carrying thereon a spring I34 which produces the locking force for the left-hand locking mechanism in Fig. 11. spring I34 is compressed between a shoulder I33a on the lifter rod and the trunnion I32 and is ad-, justed by locknuts I35. This insures clamping of the plate regardless. of slight variations in the circumferential length of the plate. As stated before, the remaining mechanism functions sim- The ilarly to the mechanism on the shaft I08. This mechanism is located in the shaving arch I.

The shafts I01 and I08 derive their oscillation from the knife shaft 6, which, through gearing, operates thecams and levers to control motion in the following manner. Referring particularly to Fig. 16, a lever I36 is secured to the. shaft I01 and a lever I31 is fastened to the shaft I08. Said levers move in an arcuate manner about the axes of their respective shafts and, as shown above in Fig. 16 which, being viewed from the other end, issubstantially the opposite of Figs. 11 and 12 in regard to the lifter shafts, the shaft I01 will rotate counterclockwise for lifting and shaft I08 will move clockwise. Carried at the extremities of the levers I30 and I31 by studs I38 is a lifter gear I45 operated by a pinion I45 secured to the knife shaft 5. The gears I44 and I46 have an equalnumber of teeth and will therefore rotate at the same speed." Consequently. the cam I4I will rotate once to each rotation of the knife bar. Unless the machine is set for the double shave cycle, the'cam I4I will cause the plate lifters to be raised and lowered once for each knife bar revolution.

Said roller is held in con-- If the machine is set for doubleshavecycle, the cam I4I will still operate, but

mechanism yet to be described will permit the cam to control the lifting mechanism only every other revolution-of the knife bar. These parts are shielded by a plate I45a.

The movement of the cam I 4 I against the roller I40 will cause the yoke I39 to oscillate back and forth, thereby regulating the raising or lowering of the lifter bars.

As'has been stated previously, it is desirable sometimes to take an additional finishing out to produce accurate results, asthe plate may spring or bulge on the first passage of the knife and leave an inaccurate surface; the second knife:

passage would remove any-uneven spot. This is accomplished by simply throwing the lever I41 in forces the detent I50 fore, have complete control I31 and will operate the ase iosa attached to one endof the shaft I48, placed in a convenient position near the loading end of the machine. The shaft I 48ex'tends longitudinally through the machine and has secured at its opposite end a trip lever the desired operating position by a trip detent I50. The trip detent I50 is carried in the frame I by a bushing II. A spring I52 mounted there- I49. A screw detent thereof. I As illustrated in Fig. 16, the mechanism is set I53, cooperating with a slot in the I50, controls the longitudinal motion for double shave operation, as shown and described in the application of Oscar C. Roesen, filed December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,325, now Patent No. 2,243,261, granted May 27, 1941. 1 Leyer I49, in rotating about center of shaft I48, is in line of contact with a lever I54 rotatably mounted on the shaft I42. A stud I 55, carried in one arm of said lever I54,secures thereona spring rod I56 mounting a spring I51. The

shank of the spring rod I56 passes through a poppet I58, bolted to the frame I, the spring, I51 abutting against said poppet. Spring action will 'urgethe lever I54 torotate and carry a roller I 59,

secured to another arm of said lever by a stud I60, to move against a cam I 6I which is attached stud Shaft I62 that is to everytwo knife bar revolutions and to maintain it in locked position for the second revolution. After the second shaving operation is finished, the cam I6I is brought into such position that the roller I59 causesthe lever I54 to be rotated and to release thelever I36. 'Ihecam MI is constructed to accommodate a roller I65 and control its motion and consequently. the motion of the levers I36 and I31, when the lever I36 is released by the lever I54, the cam ,I4I will cause the lifters to lower the platesfrom the arch. It is, therefore, evident that, by means of mechanism described above, the plate lifting mechanism will raise the plate into the, shaving arch for machining, hold, the plate therein While the knife bar 6 rotates the blades 24 and 25 to, trim offthe ribs, and for the double shave cycle continue to hold said plate in position for another knife bar rotation before the plate is lowered .from the arch.

Fig. 17 illustrates the position of the trip lever I49 for the, single shavecycle. Said lever I49, operatedthrough the shaft I48 by the handle I41, is brought in contact with the lever I54 in such manner that a toe I541) is brought into con- "tact witha ledge M901 and holds the lever I54 "clear of the lever I36. The cam I4I will, thereof the levers I36 and plate lifter so that a plate is raised into the arch, clamped forthe finishing operation and loweredonce every knife bar revolution.

The plate upon being secured against the liner,

' as shown at P--2 in Fig. 12, is now ready to be machined. Rotation of the knife bar a will cause the blades ,24 and 25 to be brought against the] inside faceof the plateand remove the re-' I49 which is maintained in against the trip lever bar. Therefore, the l from the curved beveled edgesof the plate, elimi to the intermediate gear I45. Suitable ball bearoscillate back and forth in such v is being rotated.

, 5 quired amount of metal to secure thickness. The blades 24 and 25 are radially adjustable by means of adjusting screws I 66 and adjusting fingers I61 placed at either end of said blades. Suitable screws 24a and 25a clampthe blades .to the knifebar 6., Trimming tools. I68 and I69, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, remove metal nating any sharp or rough edgesleft there in theplate casting or tail cutting operations. Said trimming tools are attached to the'knife bar in such position as to accommodate the ends of the plate. Fig. 11 shows them as being clamped to the trailing side of the projection carrying knife 24 i When the plate is rolled underneath the arch, it is intercepted bythe stop 66. Said stop will set the plate in such position that the trimming tools I68 and I69 trim the edges properly; The stop, 66 is controlled by a cam groove in a cam I10,

see Fig. 3. Cam I10, fastened to the knife bar 6,

synchronizes the action of the stop 66 with the plate lifters and trimming tools.- The stop '66 abuts the beveled edge of the plate. lifters carry said p1ate,-upward,the cam I10 permits thestop 66 to be"raised by spring action againsta roller "L, This roller is mounted on a stud I12 carried in'the stop- 66 and causes the stop to maintain thelongitudinal position of the plate. A spring I13 secured to astud I14;in the plate stop assists the cam action by keeping the roller "I in contact with thecam I10. Said stop is held in the raised position as theknife bar 6 The trimming tool I 60 will finish the edge of plate abutting the stop 66 and the cam .I10 will cause the stop66 to descend, clearingsaid took-then assume its raised After the finishing operation, the stop will dedownward until clear of plates locationuntil the lifter bars reach their lowest position. At this point the ,plate'stops its descending mot on, but the stop- 66 continues the plate, at which time the ejector 61 is brought into action and pushes the plate from the arch I.

The ejectorforms a twofold purpose, its main function being to start the platemoving from the arch, when the rollers within the arch prove sluggish and the second function being to prevent the plate from reboundingoff the second plate Substantially 180 away from the shaving knives 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 11, the plate ejector 61 is mounted as followszf A T slot is machined in the knife bar 6 with certain portions of the overhanging ledges cut away, substantially asshown inFig. 22. A slide bar I15 is also made on itslower portion in the shape of a T i with cutouts complementary with those .in the the end'of the hole a rod I11 is placed abutting one end of thespring and a shoulder in the knife bar 6. The cooperation of this red I11 and a spring I16 tends to force the slide bar I15 to the right,as shown in Fig. 2, pushing a roller I18 carried by astud I19 secured in the sliding bar I15 against a shoulderof thecam 93. In

, this manner the stop is keptin the location shown in Figs. 2, 18,19 and20. When-the rotation of the knife bar bringsthe roller I 18 around to proper plate As the plate position. i

61 contacts the plate P under the following conditions: A plate upon being released by the stop 34 passes along the rollers until it contacts the ejector 51. Said ejectorwill be forced downward compressing a spring I83, and allow the plate topass over it. See Fig. 18. Immediately after the trailing edge of plate passes beyond the shoulder 61a, the ejector'81 will snap up behind the trailing end of the plate, thereby preventing rebound. See Fig. 19.

It is understood that-the stop 66 is to cooperate with the ejector 61 in that it allows clear passage of the plate when the ejector causes it to move to the left. 3

The plate is now projected into the cooling tank 19 wherein a spray of water may be directed against either or both sides of the plate by selecting valves, not shown.

The platecontacts two rollers I84 carried by studs I85 each secured in one end of a lever I88, Figs. 3 and 15. Theweightof the plate will cause the levers I86 to begin rotation about the axis of a shaft I81 to which they are attached and also cause a lever I88 to be moved about the same axis. As shown in Fig. 3, the lever I88 is secured to the shaft I81, which is mounted in a bracket 285, bolted to the bracket 3.

The counter-clockwise motion will cause a hinge pin 284, secured in one end of the lever I88, to move to the right, carrying withit one end of a connecting link I89 whose other end is attached to valve I98 shown in Fig. 1. j

A shut-off valve I9I is connected to a water supply by piping, not shown, and is also connected to the release valve I98 and the water jacket of the arch liner I86 by piping which is not shown. The operation of the valve I98 releases water to a manifold I92 and a cooling stand I93, see Fig. 3, through piping, not shown. The man- 1 ifold I92 accommodates a plurality of spray pipes I94 parallel to the plate surface and in such position that suitable holes in said spray pipes will direct jets of water against the entire outside surface of the plate at once. The cooling stand I93 carries thereon a spray plate I93a in which suitable holes are drilled to direct the water against the concave surface of the plate. These features are located in the cooling arch 28I.

During the cooling operation, the plate is located by the hinged stop 98 operated by the cam 9 I.

The cam 9 I is attached to a knife bar extension I 95,

which operates concentrically with the knife bar I to which it is secured. The rotation of the knife bar 6, therefore, will cause the cam 9I' to rotate and intercept a roller I96 secured to the stop 98 by a stud I91. A projection on the face of the cam 9| will move the cam in a clockwise manner about a hinge pin I98 secured in a bracket I99 that in turn is bolted to the end of the cooling stand I93 as shown in Fig. 3. The stop 98 is also provided with a handle 98a through which said stop may be manually operated. The'handle 98a serves as a counterweight to keep the operating end of the stop normally in theraised position.

Lowering of the stop 98 will release the plate and allow said plate to pass over the stop 98 into dewer The plate, after leaving the cooling tank19,

has an accumulation of water on its inner surface which, if allowed to remain, would be picked up by the printing press cylinders and would cause corrosion, especially to those parts incorporated in a locking arrangement. Water onthe outside surface would be quickly dispelled as the press is put in operation. A drying arrangement mounted in the delivery end bracket is designed to remove water from the inside surface of the plate by the use of compressed air.

Referring to Fig. 23, an air inlet 58I is connected to an air valve 2I8 mounted at the end of the delivery bracket 3 by a bracket 2I I through piping and fittings 3I2. The air valve is operated from the knife bar Ii through double exten- Depressing the pin 222 will release the air to a manifold 2I9 to be carried through exhaust pipes 228 and 22I. Suitable holes are drilled in said pipes to direct air, againstthe plates concave surface and blow off and evaporate water which eventually runs out through the drain 283. It is understood that the cam 2I3 is timedso that air is blown out through the pipes 228 and 22I only when, in the cycle of the machine, a plate is scheduledto be over them. 7

To minimize'the danger of any foreign matter adhering to the outside of the plate and then having it crushed into the plate when said plate is forced against the shaving arch, there is incorporated in this machine a plate cleaner which by means of compressed air will remove any loose substance from the plate as said plate is enteringthe arch. A manifold 588, see Fig. 26, arranged to coincide with entering end of the shaving arch contains air outlets designed to blow against the plate P as it moves into the arch. The air supply is controlled from the knife bar.

Air is brought in through fitting 58I, see Fig. 23, then through air lines 582 and 583 to an air valve 584. A cam 585, secured to the upper end of the shaving knife bar '6, is arranged in such manner that its high point will be brought against a pin 588 of the air valve, depressing saidpin and releasing air pressure through a pipeline 581 and its fittings, in to manifold 588'a'nd then exhausting against the plate '1. Thevalve 581! is mounted in a bracketwhich in turn is bolted tothe receiving bracket 2. The air blast through the small holes of the manifold 588 is so controlled that. it blows only as the plate passes underneath on its course longitudinally into the arch.

The shaving knife lubricator makes use of air pressure to produce a vacuum in the oil supply line, thereby siphoning the oil from its resenarterie voir, and to atomize the oil when it is ejected to theatmosphere. The air passing the opening in the supply line will reduce the pressure theremeshes with the gear I44 is rotatably mounted on a stud 402 by a bearing 402aand is secured to said bearing by a retainer 403. A cran k pin 1,404, fastened in the retainer 403, carries one end of a crank 405 whose other end is carried by a crank pin 406 secured in a cam index yoke 401..

Saidyoke is freeto rotate on a hub 408 butits motion is limitedby the crank 405. Theoperating radius of the pin.404 is shorter than that of the pin 406, and when the machine is in operation, rotation of the retainer 403 will cause the crank 405 to transmit an oscillatin motion to the yoke 401. The hub 408 is rotatably mounted. on a shaft 409 and has secured to it a ratchet 4H and alubricator operating cam 4|0. A ratchet pawl 4|2, pivotally mounted in theyoke 401 by; a stud 4| 3, .is held against the ratchet 4 by aspring M4. The oscillating motion of the yoke 40'! causes the pawl M2 to engage and disengage with a series of notches on the ratchet 4| I, to move the ratchet M l, and consequently When the air pressure iscut off inthe [nozzle body-43L oil' is maintainedqin said supply pipe .by a ball valve 438, which is drawn up by vacuum, allowing the lubricant to enter through the opening in a check nut 439. But the .ball 438 drops down by gravity when the vacuumgis broken, thus sealing the opening in the nut 439 and trapping oil in the supply line 436 and ball valve body 440; see Fig. 33. This knife lubrication is an improvement on the construction shown and claimed in the pending application of Norman M. Shaner and William B. Bardell, Serial No.

the hub 408 and cam 4| 0 about the shaft 409. Thehub 408 can be moved positively in one di rection only. t i i I I i In referring to Fig. 29, a roller 5 is shown against the inside of the hub 408 and flat on the shaft 409 in such manner that clockwise motion of the hub 408 will cause the roller 4| 5 to be wedged between said hub and flat of the shaft 409, thereby limiting the motion of the hub 408 to one direction. Movement of said hub in coun ter-clockwise manner will allow free motion.

. Rotation of the cam 4!!! will bring the high. point thereon in contact with a roller 4l8 carried by a pin M9 in a lever 420, as shown in Fig. 31. The lever 420 is mounted on an air valve body 422 b a hinge pin 42l and a spring,

423, mounted in counterbored holes in both 1evers and body, holds the lever against a spindle 424. The spindle 424 is held in place against a seat 421 by a spring 425 and .an adjustable check screw 426, as shown inFigQ30. When a shoulderof the spindle 424 is held against its seat 421. it will form an effective seal for air entering at 428. The action of the cam 4| 0 against the roller 8 will cause the spindle 424 to be freed from the seat and release air through an exhaust port 429 through a tube 430 to an air nozzle body 43!, shown in Fig. 32. Air will be admitted at 432 and will pass around a tube 433 and will exhaust through a nozzl 434. In passing the tube 433, the air will produce a vacuum therein, causing lubricant to be drawn into the nozzle body 431 through afitting at 435, through the tube 433, then through the nozzle 434, where it is atomized. Referring to Figs. 27 and 28, the

oil supply pipe 436 is connected to the nozzle body 43I at the opening 435 and extends into a reservoir 431 cast in the main frame I.

As noted in Fig. 27, the high points on the cam 0 are substantially 180 apart, indicating that lubricating action is intermittent. The cam H0 is adjustable so that lubrication can be made I to take place at the proper time.

For proper lubricator action it is necessary that the supply pipe 436 contain oil at all times.

safety factor. For the most part the guards l9a,

146a and 20| are of conventional design, but blending with the general styling of the machine. The only guards considered in this description are those which keep the chips clear of the plate lifting mechanism. Sheet metal chip guides 224 and 225, Figs. 11 and 12, are attached to the lifter bars 63 and I05 respectively. and serve to guideany chips downwardtoward the center of the machine. Said guides overlap the plate lifter side pans, 226 and 223, that extend from the plate roller toe bars 65 and 65a downward to above the Chip pan 221 which rests in the base of the main frame I. Said guides and pans thereby. form an effectivechutefor chips turned up bythe cutting knives .24 and 25. The chip pan is provided with a suitable handle to simplify its removal for emptying; and strips are placed along the bottom it slide easily. n

It will be seen that, by these means, a. complete stereotype plate finishing, cooling, and drying machine is provided in which the plates are fed down the machine on freely rotating rolls by gravity, some of which rolls areknurled and provided with positive rotating means, to avoid the stop just outside the arch and adapted to be I dropped to allow the plate to run into the arch by gravity and to stop the plate completely and accurately to place it in the proper position in the arch. The shaving blade is provided with a spray of lubricant at intervals which always 3 occur when the blades are down to substantially their lowestpoint in the arch, which lubricant also cools the plate. The plate is raised and low-- ered in the arch as described and after. the shaving operationis loosened and the platestopped at the bottom of the arch to allow the plate to move out of the shaving arch to the cooling arch where it does not have to be so accurately manilpulated. -'I'hat plate, under the control of a movable roll in the shaving arch, is supplied preferably with water cooling means on both surfaces in the cooling arch. When one plate starts out of the shaving arch the plate that has been described starts out of the. cooling arch and is received into the drying position which is the I last position of the plat in this machine. In this position a spray of air is introduced against the trolled by the main shaving shaft for introducing air into the shaving arch and spraying air down through the arch on the top or type surof the pan to makeface of the plate before the plate is clamped 'into the shavingarch. Thus, during a straight drive through the machine, the plate receives. its

various operations.

Having thus described our invention and the advantage thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but What we tion, one station being arranged for finishingthe concave surface of the plate, a shaving arch above said station, of means for lifting a printing plate and clamping it in said shaving arch,

rollers carried by the lifting means for supporting t e'lplate as it enters or leaves the station below the shaving arch, and means for moving the rollers out of contact with the plate as it is lifted and moving the rollers back into contact with the plate as it is lowered.

2. In a plate finishing machine, the combination with a shaving arch, of means for lifting a printing plate therein, rollers carried by the lifting means but out of contact with the plate when the lifting means is at the uppermost and intermediate positions, with means for bringing the rollers into contact with the plateas the lifting means reaches its lowermost position.

3. The combination in a plate finishing machine, of a main frame, a shaving arch and means for lifting a printing plate therein, said asc i es means including a clamping bar, a 11m; and an arm, a shaft, said am being mounted on shaft, a 1ever pivoted on the main frame, a also secured. to said shaft and cooperating with said lever, and means for oscillating said shaft,

. said link arm, cam and lever in combination sew:

ing to control the motion of the as it is raised or lowered. I

4. In a. plate finishing machine, the combination including a main frame, an inclined runway,

clamping bar a shaving arch integral with the main frame of the machine but spaced therefrom to provide an opening, rollers above and below the arch, holdback rollers aboveand (below the arch for controlling the speed of the plate into and out of the arch, and a singlemeams for drivingthe holdback rollers above and below the arch passing through said opening formed between the arch and main frame. I

5. In a finishing 'achine, including an in clined runway, a shaving arch integral with the main frame of the machine, rollers above and below the arch, holdback rollers above and below the arch for controlling the speed of r the plate into and out of the arch, and a singlemearis for driving the holdback rollers above and below the arch, with means for adjustingthe holdbac'k rollers to different heights in accordance with the size of the plates being served. A

JOHN A. ISBELL. v PAUL L; T'OLLISON. HENRY A. WISE WooD. CHARLES L. RICARDS. 

